Climbing road trip USA

[dalai]

Starting this thread as my wife asked me where I wanted to go riding in 2013!

Taking this a green light I'm keen to start planning. Having ridden in Europe the last two years, I like the idea of heading to the USA with the bike. Especially as I haven't been to the States since 98, it is slightly closer so cheaper airfares, and the AU$ is going gangbusters against the US$.

So hypothetical 3-4 week road trip - does the following sound feasible?

Arrive possibly late August to early September. Flying into Denver and hit the Colorado climbs before the snows arrive then drive to the west coast via Tuscon? and/or Bishop/Tahoe. Spend a week each around San Francisco and then LA/San Diego?

Flying back home from LA.

Suggestions for car / van hire (possibly small campervan?) and better towns to stay at including accommodation suggestions would be greatfully received.

Will be ordering The Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike) to research climbs.

[Mike K.]

Sounds like it will be epic Dalai. Take a look at this article under the heading of "Favorite riding area?" it refers to a climb in San Diego you might be interested in:

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fulls ... est%20News

[pritchet74]

If you end up in the San Francisco area I will take a day off work to go for a ride with ya. Lots of climbs around here!

[Mike K.]

If you end up in the San Francisco area I will take a day off work to go for a ride with ya.

What a gracious offer!

[mdeth1313]

If you end up in the San Francisco area I will take a day off work to go for a ride with ya.

What a gracious offer!

Of course this also means lunch at Chipotle!

[pritchet74]

Mmmmm, Chipotle burritos...

[dalai]

Thanks for the tip Mike. K. I will be buying The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) to research as many climbs and areas as possible!

If this trip does happen you are on pritchet74! I am sure I can tee up a weekend ride if that is more convenient...

Spent 7 months based in Berkley back in the mid 90's and travelled all along the West coast. All the way north to Portland, south to El Paso and as far inland as Denver. Will be interesting to revisit much of this area again, just will be with the bicycle this time.

Chipotle sounds good; I love my Mexican food!

[über-goober]

Nothing to add.. just that you've got the best of the west there for road climbs.

Front Range, CO
Owens Valley, CA
Santa Cruz Mtns, CA
Lemmon/Graham, AZ

Try to make as much time as you can.

[Mike K.]

Thanks for the tip Mike. K.

You are very welcome! Hope everything works out.

Of course this also means lunch at Chipotle!

I am a little jealous-my stomach has a hard time tolerating such delicacies.

[dalai]

Looking even more likely that this is happening. Broached the subject again last night just to make sure. Result was that I've just ordered both the Colorado and California versions of the Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) and will be getting these for Christmas from my wife...

[pritchet74]

You have a good wife!

Lots of great roads in the Napa and Santa Rosa regions with nasty steep little climbs.

[mdeth1313]

You have a good wife!

[dalai]

You have a good wife!

Indeed. Especially as in 2011 I was away solo for 6 1/2 weeks in Europe with 4 of those riding in the French Alps! This year was a family holiday, but she was still okay for me to disappear for 4 days and fly to northern Italy to ride the Stelvio, Mortirolo and Gavia...

So wasn't expecting an OS trip this year, especially before these last two years we hadn't been OS since 2005!

[über-goober]

Dalai - how do you do at altitude? If you can deal with 1/3 less oxygen without needing a few weeks to acclimatize, then Evans and the high passes could be on the menu. Also they are opening Pikes Peak more and more to bikes - in september though. That's the crown jewel of Colorado climbs IMO with an awesome road that has 10% pitches above 10k'.

Even the Front Range classics could be a drag if the elevation gets to you. Figure 2500-3000m where a lot of the fun happens.

Also the stuff in Sierras will be a lot higher than anything in Europe, at over 3000m.

The Summerson books are good with lots of excellent data. He's quite the number cruncher and has measured everything himself with a gradiometer (I don't even know what that is). I have gotten really lost when I didn't map my way to the starts.

Hope you come through AZ!

[Mike K.]

All this talk about climbing is better than bike porn to me!